Boom gooseneck problem on '73 E27

[rgoff]

The gooseneck fitting for my mainsail boom came out of the boom.

For a picture see:
http://www.hogtimemusic.com/photos/gooseneck.jpg

Two of the three screw holes in the boom appear to have worn over time to become slots.

Looking for any suggestions for a fix.

I'm thinking of drilling 3 new holes and threading the new holes in the gooseneck.

Thanks,

 

[Loren Beach]

I like your idea of drilling new holes. I would bed those new screws in some sort of Loktite for sure...

Loren

 

[Bill Hearsey]

Do you have room to simply cut 1/2" off your boom?

Bill Hearsey

 

[rgoff]

Good idea on cutting boom. That's something I hadn't thought of. I guess it's a matter of which is harder: Cut the boom or thread the new holes in the gooseneck. At least with cutting the boom, I eliminate the possibility of somehow messing up the (probably irreplaceable) gooseneck.

I'm going down to my boat tomorrow to hopefully fix it.

Thanks to both who replied.

 

[rgoff]

I took Bill's advice and cut off 5/8" from the end of the boom. It worked out great. In fact, someone on the dock saw me working and said they had done the same thing to their boom, for the same problem.

Here's the before, during and after pictures:
http://www.hogtimemusic.com/photos/gooseneck.jpg
http://www.hogtimemusic.com/photos/gooseneck2.jpg
http://www.hogtimemusic.com/photos/gooseneck3.jpg

In the middle one, the piece cut off is actually turned around. The slots should be away from the end of the boom.

Ericson didn't allow much room for "hole wear" when they designed the gooseneck fitting. The hole centers need to be 1/4" from the end of the boom and it's a 1/4" hole.

I'm glad I posted my problem before attacking it.

Good sailing,